Anyone know what this upper state NY shrub is??
#1

To the hivemind/braintrus:
I have this growing in the edges of most of my fields and it seems the deer are not browsing on it at all. Does it have any wildlife value. Thanks, Rob
I have this growing in the edges of most of my fields and it seems the deer are not browsing on it at all. Does it have any wildlife value. Thanks, Rob

#2

I think it's Autumn Olive. It's a widespread shrub that I don't think has much value to deer. Birds and bears love them though.
Here's a bit of info if it is Autumn Olive.
http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-321/420-321.html
Here's a bit of info if it is Autumn Olive.
http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/420/420-321/420-321.html
#4

Yes, lots of wildlife species feed on it for certain, including the three you mentioned. It seems it all depends on where you are located whether it gets frowned upon or desired. I do believe it has a tendency to take over and crowd out more favorable native species, but kept under control, some is worth having IMO. It produces berries every year no matter what the weather has been.
#5

when I fist opened the post - thought for sure it was going to be Morrow's honeysuckle:


http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/lomo.html
http://www.threatsummary.forestthrea...m?threatID=157
we have tons & tons of it. Its likely you have it too - though your picture does look more like Autumn Olive (we don' t have that on our property).
Deer and most other animals do not eat Morrow's Honeysuckle. it makes good rabbit cover, but even rabbits won't eat the bark.
FH


http://www.duke.edu/~cwcook/trees/lomo.html
http://www.threatsummary.forestthrea...m?threatID=157
we have tons & tons of it. Its likely you have it too - though your picture does look more like Autumn Olive (we don' t have that on our property).
Deer and most other animals do not eat Morrow's Honeysuckle. it makes good rabbit cover, but even rabbits won't eat the bark.
FH
Last edited by farm hunter; 09-25-2009 at 10:13 AM.
#10

The guys were correct, the first picture is autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), the second is barberry of some sort (Berberis spp.) and the last is gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa). All three provide good cover for many wildlife species and are mostly eaten by birds and squirrels. The autumn olive berries should have white specs all over them and they are actually very good to eat yourself. Everytime I see autumn olive I pluck a bunch of berries off and eat them, there are some that are rather chalky but most are tasty.